1.
Dublin GAA
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The Dublin Gaelic football team is the most supported GAA team in terms of attendance which is made up of 286 clubs. The team and its fans are known as The Dubs or The Jacks, the fans have a special affiliation with the Hill 16 end of Croke Park. Dublin GAA has jurisdiction over the area that is associated with the county of County Dublin. There are 9 officers on the Board including the Cathaoirleach, Seán Shanley, for details on the Boards clubs, see Gaelic Athletic Association clubs in County Dublin and List of Gaelic games clubs in Ireland. The Board is subject to the Leinster GAA Provincial Council, the teams of Dublin GAA play home games at Parnell Park, Donnycarney on the northside of the city, although Croke Park is used for major matches at the request of the GAA. Parnell Park also hosts all the games in the Dublin club Football. The current senior manager is Jim Gavin. The current senior hurling team manager is Ger Cunningham, meanwhile, the hurlers retained their status in the Liam MacCarthy Cup. Plans to divide Dublin into two teams – North Dublin and South Dublin – were proposed in 2002 but rejected by the Dublin County Board, currently the Board has only decided to divide its development teams. These teams are not considered to be a move towards dividing the county but are in fact a move designed to identify, the restructured developments teams are North, South and West. Dublin supporters are known as The Dubs, and in the 1970s as Heffos army. While songs are popular with the Dublin fans they tend to be Dublin-centric such as Molly Malone. The Hill 16 end in Croke Park is an area for which many Dubs hold a special affection, Dublin supporters have been known to chant Hill 16 is Dublin only as a humorous jibe at supporters from rival teams. The Dublin team are sometimes called The Jacks with the ladies called The Jackies and these names came from a shortening of the word Jackeen. Notable fans include Jim Stynes, golfer Pádraig Harrington, rugby union star Brian ODriscoll, in 2003/4, the Dublin County Board tried unsuccessfully to copyright the Dublin crest in use at the time. The crest at the time was declared to be in the domain by the Irish High Court as it was too similar to other crests in use by Dublin City Council. The name Áth Cliath in Irish replaces the previous name Dublin, till 1918, Dublin wore the colours of the Club Champions as many other counties. The change to the present look, with blue details, shorts

2.
Leinster Senior Football Championship
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The Leinster Senior Football Championship is the premier knockout competition in the game of Gaelic football played in the province of Leinster in Ireland. The series of games are organised by the Leinster Council of the Gaelic Athletic Association and are played during the summer months, the competition involves the counties of Leinster playing against each other. The Leinster Football Final is played in July in Croke Park, the winning county is presented with the Delaney Cup, named after a famous Laois GAA family, and advance to the quarter finals of the All-Ireland Senior Football Championship. It was unequalled by any team, until Dublin won their own 6-in-a-row between 1974 and 1979. The Leinster Football Championship is run on a basis, whereby a team is eliminated from the competition once they lose. All of the counties of Leinster except Kilkenny participate in the championship, the draw is seeded, with the previous years semi-finalists getting byes to the quarter-finals. Six of the seven teams are drawn for three preliminary round matches, while the seventh team also gets a bye to the quarter-finals. The Leinster championship is contested by 11 of the 12 counties in Leinster, Kilkenny is currently the only county not to compete. Meath won the 2010 Leinster Final against neighbours Louth in controversial circumstances, during the Leinster Final on 11 July 2010, in the 74th minute of the match against Louth, a goal was awarded by the referee after brief consultation with only one of the match umpires. Crowd violence, controversy and recriminations ensued, however, Meath received the Leinster title and the cup

3.
Ulster Senior Football Championship
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The Ulster Senior Football Championship is a GAA inter-county competition for gaelic football teams within the Irish province of Ulster. It is organised by the Ulster Council and begins in early May, the final is usually played on the third Sunday in July. It is regarded as hardest to win of the four football championships. Cavan are the most successful team in Ulster Championship history, having won the competition on 37 occasions, fermanagh remain the only team not to have won an Ulster title. The Ulster Senior Football Championship celebrated its 125th year in 2013, for many decades, winning the Ulster Senior Football Championship was considered as much as a team from Ulster could hope for, as the other provinces were usually much stronger and more competitive. Before 1990, only Cavan in 1933,1935,1947,1948 and 1952, in the 1990s however, a significant sea change took place, as the Ulster Champions won the All-Ireland in four consecutive years from 1991–1994. Since then Ulster has produced more All-Ireland winning teams than any other province, currently the Ulster Senior Football Championship is considered one of the toughest provinces to compete in. The Ulster football final is played on the third Sunday in July, usually at St. Tiernachs Park in Clones. From 2004 until 2006, it was staged at Croke Park in Dublin, the 2007 final—contested by Monaghan and Tyrone—marked a return to Clones, with Tyrone emerging victorious. In the 2000s, Armagh were a dominant force in Ulster, Donegal won consecutive Ulster titles from the preliminary round in 2011 and 2012 and added the All-Ireland Senior Football Championship in 2012. The Ulster championship is contested by the nine counties in the Irish province of Ulster. Ulster comprises the six counties of Northern Ireland as well as Cavan, Donegal, the Ulster Senior Football Championship is a straight knock-out competition. All beaten teams compete in the All-Ireland Senior Football Championship qualifiers, the Ulster Senior Football Championship winner enters the All-Ireland Senior Football Championship at the quarter-final stage. The two semi-final winners competed in the All-Ireland Senior Football Final, below is a record of each countys performance since the introduction of the qualifier system to the All-Ireland Series in 2001. Key A golden background denotes years the Ulster Champions won the All-Ireland as well, Cavan played in Leinster Senior Football Championship in 1895. As of 3 June 2008 according to the BBC, updated list Notes, Includes Ulster Championship, All-Ireland Championship and Qualifiers. As of 15 June 2008, according to the Sunday Tribune, Notes, Includes Ulster Championship, All-Ireland Championship and Qualifiers. Since the records have been done Brendan Coulter has become the top scorer with 18

4.
Monaghan GAA
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Separate county boards are responsible for the camogie and ladies Gaelic football teams. Their current team sponsor is Investec, Gaelic football was recorded in Inniskeen in 1706 in a poem. Monaghan were prominent in Ulster championship competitions during the period 1914-30, Monaghan beat Kildare in a semi-final to reach the 1930 All-Ireland Senior Football Championship Final, where Kerry beat them by 3-11 to 0-2 without their goalkeeper touching the ball. In 1979 the Monaghan team won the Ulster Senior Football Championship for the first time in 41 years with a defeat of Donegal. In the final Monaghan Kieran Finlay scored 1-09, which was a record in an Ulster final for 20 years and they also won the Dr McKenna Cup in 1979. Victories in the Ceannarus Tournament against Roscommon and Dublin in 1979 brought gloss to the countys finest year on the field in almost half a century. In the All-Ireland Senior Football Championship 1979 semi-final at Croke Park, Monaghan were again beaten by Kerry, Monaghan also won Division 3 of the National Football League that year and lost to Meath in the quarterfinal. Kerry won the replay on a 2-09 to 0-10 score and that National football league title of 1985 was won by Monaghan on a 1-11 to 0-09 score against pre-match favourites Armagh. The game was settled by an Eamon McEneaney penalty in the first half when referee John Gough from Antrim decided that an Armagh defender had taken too many steps in his own penalty area. That years Ulster Senior Football Championship was also a stirring success, the first day against Armagh, Monaghan relied on pure luck to survive for a draw, as Armagh dominated the game from start to finish, doing everything but score. Paddy Linden saved a penalty, while and Armagh player saw the line barely 30 seconds after coming onto the field as a substitute, the replay was a better match but a late Armagh goal had Monaghan concerned. However they won by 1-11 to 2-07, in the Ulster final against Derry Eamon McEneaney helped himself to 2-04 as Monaghan recorded and easy 2-09 to 0-08 win. As stated the drawn All-Ireland semi-final against Kerry was a thriller, Eamon McEneaneys last gasp equaliser was something special but in the replay Kerry were ruthless and despite serious Monaghan pressure the Kingdom won by 5 points. Monaghans run that year was something special considering the fact that they were missing Declan Loughman, Gerry Hoey, All three were prominent in the National Football League win over Armagh while they would form the spine of the Ulster Senior Football Championship winning side of 1988. It could be argued that with three players on board, Monaghan could have won the All-Ireland in 1985. Certainly their absence robbed the team of vital strength in depth and they reached the 1986 National Football League final but this time the opposition was Laois. Played in front of over 30,000 supporters the Laoismen edged out Monaghan by 2-06 to 2-05, a promising season was over before it had begun. In 1987, Monaghan reached the National Football League semi-final again where they played out a game against Kerry at Croke Park

5.
Connacht Senior Football Championship
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The Bank of Ireland Connacht Senior Football Championship is an annual Gaelic football competition for the senior county teams of Connacht GAA. All of the counties of Connacht participate in the championship, as well as counties London, the Connacht Senior Football Championship is run on a knock-out basis in which once a team loses they are eliminated from the competition. A series of games are played during the months and the final is played in July. The winner progresses directly to the All-Ireland Series, while losing teams - since 2001 - progress to the All-Ireland Qualifiers, mayo are the Connacht Championships record holders, having won the competition on 46 occasions. Galway are Connachts most successful side with 9 All Ireland titles, London have competed in the Connacht Senior Football Championship since 1975. In this time they have managed three victories, one in 1977 and two in 2013, against Sligo and Leitrim, the Connacht championship is contested by the five counties in the Irish province of Connacht and the two foreign based teams of London and New York

6.
Mayo GAA
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Mayos senior Gaelic football team play in the Connacht Senior Football Championship. Despite having three All-Ireland Senior Football Championship wins—1936,1950 and 1951— and also holding having a number of consecutive National Football League titles. Mayo also hold the record of staying the longest time in the top flight of the National Football League, Mayo have in recent times become known for their propensity to reach All-Ireland Senior Football Championship Finals only to fall at the ultimate hurdle. Mayo hold the Championship record for consecutive losing All-Ireland Senior Football Final appearances—this currently stands at eight, in 1989, they reached their first All-Ireland Senior Football Championship Final since their last victory in 1951 only to lose to Cork. In 1996, a point by Meath at the end of the final forced a replay. Kerry bridged an 11-year title gap against them in 1997 with a three-point win, before torturing them by eight points in 2004 and thirteen points in 2006. Then, in the minute, Colm McFadden seized the ball from the grasp of Kevin Keane. Mayo managed thirteen points to Donegals two goals and eleven, only got on the scoresheet after sixteen minutes when already two goals behind and never led during the match. 2013 saw Mayo in the again, and once more coming up short, this time being seen off by Dublin. The teams traditional colours are green and red, the Mayo jersey will commonly be mostly green, with a thick horizontal red stripe just below chest level. These colours are inspired by The Green Above The Red, a rebel song, Mayos current crest is based on the countys coat of arms, which is shown on the left. It features four crosses, each representing a diocese of the Catholic Church in Mayo, the Patriarchal or double cross represents the Archdiocese of Tuam, while the three smaller Passion crosses represent Achonry, Killala and Galway/Kilmacduagh/Kilfenora. The Irish root word of the county, Maigh Eo, means plain of the yew trees, as well as this, the number of trees is significant, with the nine trees representing the number of baronies in the county. The sailing ship represents the maritime history, while the red sea below the green hills represents the traditional green above the red motif of the county. The Mayo GAA crest also features the Irish words Críost Linn, Mayos current sponsors are Irish sports store chain Elverys Sports. Their jerseys are provided by Irish manufacturers ONeills sportswear, Mayos unofficial supporters club is Mayo Club 51. Their crest is based on the current GAA crest, with the famous mountain Croagh Patrick in green, the name of the club commemorates the year that the Mayo senior footballers last won the Sam Maguire Cup, a year which is synonymous with Mayo football. Traditionally a football county, Mayo have always had a support at minor, U21

7.
All-Ireland Senior Football Championship
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The All-Ireland Senior Football Championship, the premier competition in Gaelic football, is an annual series of games played in Ireland and organised by the Gaelic Athletic Association. The All-Ireland Senior Football Championship Final is played on the third or fourth Sunday in September at Croke Park in Dublin, the first Championship to be held featured club teams who represented their respective counties after their county championship. The 21 a-side final was between Commercials of Limerick and Young Irelands of Louth, the final was played in Beech Hill, Clonskeagh on 29 April 1888 with Commercials winning by 1–4 to 0–3. Unlike later All-Ireland competitions, there were no championships. The second Championship was unfinished owing to the American Invasion Tour, the 1888 provincial championships had been completed but after the Invasion tour returned, the All-Ireland semi-final and final were not played. English team London reached the four times in the early years of the competition. In 1892, inter-county teams were introduced to the All-Ireland Championship, Congress granted permission for the winning club to use players from other clubs in the county, thus the inter-county teams came into being. The rules of hurling and football were also altered, goals were made equal to five points, the 1903 Championship brought Kerrys first All-Ireland title. They went on to become the most successful team in the history of the All-Ireland Senior Football Championship. The first half of the century brought the rise of several teams who won two or more All-Ireland titles in that period, such as Kildare, Mayo, Cavan, Wexford. In the 1990s, a significant sea change took place, as the All-Ireland was claimed by an Ulster team in four consecutive years, since then Ulster has produced more All-Ireland winning teams than any other province. The All-Ireland Qualifiers were introduced in 2001, later that year, the 2001 final brought victory for Galway who became the first football team to win an All-Ireland by springing through the back door. In 2013, Hawk-Eye was introduced for Championship matches at Croke Park and it was first used to confirm that Offaly substitute Peter Cunninghams attempted point had gone wide 10 minutes into the second half of a game against Kildare. 2013 also brought the first Friday night game in the history of the Championship - a first round qualifier between Carlow and Laois, the county is a geographical region in Ireland, and each of the thirty-two counties in Ireland organises its own GAA affairs through a County Board. The county teams play in their respective Provincial Championships in Connacht, Leinster, Munster, kilkenny is currently unique among the 32 Irish county associations in not participating in the All-Ireland Senior Football Championship. The Provincial Championships operate through a cup competition format. They take place during the months of May, June and July, the winners of each of the four Provincial Championships earn a place in the All-Ireland Quarter-Finals, which take place in the month of August. Each match is played as a single leg, if a match is drawn there is a replay

8.
Gaelic football
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Gaelic football, commonly referred to as football or Gaelic, is an Irish team sport. It is played two teams of 15 players on a rectangular grass pitch. The objective of the sport is to score by kicking or punching the ball into the teams goals or between two upright posts above the goals and over a crossbar 2.5 metres above the ground. Players advance the football, a leather ball, up the field with a combination of carrying, bouncing, kicking, hand-passing. In the game, two types of scores are possible, points and goals, a point is awarded for kicking or hand-passing the ball over the crossbar, signalled by the umpire raising a white flag. A goal is awarded for kicking the ball under the crossbar into the net, positions in Gaelic football are similar to that in other football codes, and comprise one goalkeeper, six backs, two midfielders, and six forwards, with a variable number of substitutes. Gaelic football is one of four sports controlled by the Gaelic Athletic Association, along with hurling and camogie, Gaelic football is one of the few remaining strictly amateur sports in the world, with players, coaches, and managers prohibited from receiving any form of payment. Gaelic football is played on the island of Ireland, although units of the Association exist in other areas such as Great Britain, North America. Outside Ireland, football is played among members of the Irish diaspora. Gaelic Park in New York City is the largest purpose-built Gaelic sports venue outside Ireland, the All-Ireland Senior Championship is considered the most prestigious event in Gaelic football. Under the auspices of the GAA, Gaelic football is a sport, however. Gaelic football was first codified in 1887, although it has purported links to varieties of football played in Ireland. Consequently, the name caid is used by people to refer to present day Gaelic football. Dublin is still known as the football field, the Statute of Galway of 1527 allowed the playing of foot balle and archery but banned hokie—the hurling of a little ball with sticks or staves as well as other sports. By the 17th century, the situation had changed considerably, the games had grown in popularity and were widely played. This was due to the patronage of the gentry, now instead of opposing the games it was the gentry and the ruling class who were serving as patrons of the games. Games were organised between landlords with each team comprising 20 or more tenants, wagers were commonplace with purses of up to 100 guineas. The earliest record of a precursor to the modern game date from a match in County Meath in 1670

9.
Roscommon GAA
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The Roscommon County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association or Roscommon GAA is one of the 32 county boards of the GAA in Ireland, and is responsible for Gaelic games in County Roscommon. The county board is responsible for the Roscommon inter-county teams. In 2014 with help of sponsors and the Club Rossie initiative a Roscommon GAA bus was bought to provide transport for all county teams to use, Roscommon have won back-to-back All-Ireland Senior Football Championship titles in 1943 and 1944. Roscommons rise from Junior status to Senior All-Ireland champions in the four leading up to 1943 was one of the great romances of its time. In the All Ireland final they drew with Cavan before winning the replay with two goals from Frankie Kinlough and Jack McQuillan. Kinlough scored the goal and Donal Keenan the points the following year when Roscommon beat Kerry, Roscommon were captained by Jamesie Murray from Knockcroghery. Roscommon were beaten in the replay, the injured team-captain, Jimmy Murray, was having blood wiped from his face to look right for the presentation when Kerry struck for two late equalising goals. Defeats in 1947,1952 and 1953 semi-finals ended the party, the 1940s successes were the pinnacle of Roscommons achievements. They also reached the final in 1962 and that year was memorable for they were losing the Connacht final to Galway by 5 points when Roscommon keeper Aidan Brady swung on the crossbar, breaking it in two. During the 15-minute wait to get it replaced, Roscommon moved the great Gerry OMalley to midfield in a re-organisation, Roscommons next period of success came in the late 1970s when they won 4 Connacht titles on the trot from 77-80. They reached the final in 1980 against Kerry, however, they failed to make any further progress in the 2001 All Ireland Championship and the decade that followed has been amongst the least successful in the teams history. On the field, outside of an exciting run in 2003. The success of the countys Minor team in winning the All-Ireland title in 2006 offered hope, Roscommon suffered a heavy defeat to local rivals Mayo in 2009. However, they followed this result with a draw against Wexford in the All Ireland Qualifiers at Wexford Park before beating the same opposition in a replay at Dr Hyde Park. Unfortunately, the followed up this victory with another sizeable defeat against Meath in the following game. The 7 point defeat brought the curtain down on another disappointing season, Supporters club was re-launched in March 2009. The new supporters club is proving a success within and outside the county. The current chairman is Kilmore man Brian Carroll, seamus Donoghue from the Tulsk club is the current secretary and Joe Gilligan is the treasurer

10.
Castlerea
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Castlerea is the second largest town in County Roscommon, Republic of Ireland. It is located in the west of the county and, as of 2011, has a population of 3,055, roughly translated from Irish, Castlerea can mean Brindled Castle or Kings Castle. The town is built on the banks of the River Suck, clonalis House, located in the west of Castlerea, is the ancestral home of the Clan OConor, the last of the High Kings of Ireland. The OConor dynasty produced eleven high kings of Ireland and twenty-four kings of Connacht, theophilus Sandford, a member of Oliver Cromwells army in Ireland, received a large allocation of lands confiscated from the OConnor family as part of the Act for the Settlement of Ireland 1652. Castlerea developed under the Sandfords, who established a distillery, a brewery, Sandfords descendants continued in power through the 19th century. The estate was acquired by the Land Commission and the Congested Districts Board. The demesne in which it was set survives and is now enjoyed as a public park, on 11 July 1921, Sergeant James King of the Royal Irish Constabulary was shot in Castlerea on St. Patrick Street and died of his wounds shortly afterward. The Truce of July 1921 was declared later that day, making Sergeant King the last casualty of the Irish War of Independence, at some point in the early 1960s, an elephant which was part of Fossetts circus died while the circus was performing in Castlerea. According to the local authority engineer at the time, it was buried under the Fair Green, dr. Douglas Hyde, the first President of Ireland and founder of the Gaelic League, was born in Castlerea on 17 January 1860. Sir William Wilde, a surgeon and historian and father of Oscar Wilde, was born in Castlerea in 1815. Dr. Matthew Young, a Bishop of Clonfert ca,1798, a natural philosopher, and a mathematician, was a native of Castlerea. Thomas Finnegan, the retired Catholic bishop of the Diocese of Killala, was born in the village of Cloonfellive near Castlerea, luke Ming Flanagan, former TD, and now an MEP, comes from Castlerea. Aidan Heavey arrived in England from Castlerea in 1993 and became chief executive of Tullow Oil, john Grenham, author of Tracing Your Irish Ancestors and other Irish heritage publications, grew up in Castlerea. He is a columnist and blogger with The Irish Times, john Waters, columnist for the The Irish Independent and author of Jiving at the Crossroads, was born and raised on Main Street in Castlerea. John F. Cryan, U. S. politician, was born in Castlerea, other notable people from the town include the poet Michael McGovern and the fur trader Andrew McDermot. Castlerea hosts the Castlerea Celtic, a football team, and St. Kevins. Castlereas major employers include Supervalu, Harmac Medical Products, Colour Communications Europe, Finola Foods, film production house Round Edge Films is based in Ballingare within Castlerea. The schools in the town are all located in the same area, Castlerea Community School instructs approximately 500 students, It provides Leaving Certificate Applied classes as well as the Junior Certificate and Leaving Certificate state examinations

11.
Galway GAA
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Galway is one of the few dual counties in Ireland, competing in a similar level in both hurling and gaelic football. The two sports are run by county boards in Galway, which is unusual, even for a dual county. Geographically the two games are quite separate in the county. Generally, football is the dominant game in Connemara, the Aran Islands, Inishbofin, North Galway, Hurling, meanwhile, is traditionally stronger in the South and East parts of Galway, with clubs such as Portumna, Ardrahan, and Gort each having multiple county titles. Galway city has teams in both codes, such as Castlegar in hurling and Salthill-Knocknacarra in football. There are exceptions to this rule of thumb, with hurling pockets in football areas, also, some parish clubs have fielded senior teams in hurling and football in the same season, such as Ballinasloe, Monivea Abbeyknockmoy and Moycullen. Galway GAA has jurisdiction over the area of the county of Galway. Galway GAA forms a part of the branch, Connacht GAA. Unlike other counties in Ireland, Gaelic games in Galway are run by two separate county boards, Gaelic football is organised by the Galway football board and hurling is organised by the Galway hurling board. The boards in Galway also organise the county championships in football and hurling for the clubs of Galway Galways traditional colours are maroon. In the early years of GAA competition, Galway teams wore the colours of the county champions in each sport, in 1936, however, the county adopted maroon as its primary colour. A crest was added to the jersey in the 1950s, with different crests coming into use for each sport, although the teams most often wear white shorts and maroon socks, the teams have also worn all maroon kits in the past. Until 2013, the football and hurling boards of Galway both used their own separate county crests for their teams, the teams began using the same jerseys and crest in 2013, ahead of that years Football and Hurling National Leagues. This new crest was, for the most part, the same as the hurling crest with the most notable differences being the angle of the boat, the first sponsor of any Galway team was Tommy Vardens Catering service, in the mid to late 1980s. Sponsorship wasnt as open in the GAA at the time, Tommy Varden sponsorship of the footballers was followed by the Supermacs fast food chain sponsoring the hurlers. In 2008, Tommy Varden ended the 25-year association with Galway football, after entering receivership, however, Aer Arann were forced to pull out of the sponsorship two years early, having sponsored the team in the 2008,2009 and 2010 seasons. In 2011, it was announced that the jersey would carry the logo of Cancer Care West. This made Galway the first GAA team to display the name of a charity on their county jersey rather than a corporate sponsor

12.
Tuam
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Tuam, Irish, Tuaim is a town in Ireland and the second largest settlement in County Galway. It is situated west of the midlands of Ireland, approximately 35 km north of Galway city, human existence in the area dates to the Bronze Age while the historic period dates from the 6th century. The town became increasingly important in the 11th and 12th centuries in political, the market based layout of the town and square indicates the importance of commerce. The record of settlement in Tuam dates back to the Bronze Age when an area adjacent to Shop Street was used as a burial ground. The name Tuam is a cognate with the Latin term tumulus, the towns ancient name was Tuaim Dá Ghualann, i. e. the burial mound of two shoulders. The name probably refers to the ground on either side of the River Nanny. In 1875, a Bronze Age burial urn was discovered in the area by workmen, an early glass photograph still exists. The history of Tuam as a settlement dates from the sixth century. Legend states that a monk called Iarlaithe mac Loga who was a member of a community at Cloonfush some 6 km west of Tuam. Iarlaithes life became uncertain as he wished to travel, eventually, Iarlaithes abbot, Benignus of Armagh told him to Go, and where ever your chariot wheel breaks, there shall be the site of your new monastery and the place of your resurrection. Iarlaithes wheel broke at Tuam and he established a monastery there, as was typical with early settlements in Ireland, religious sites became established first and towns grew around them. Likewise, Tuam grew up around the monastery and has kept the broken chariot wheel as its heraldic symbol, in 1049, when Aedh OConnor defeated Amalgaid ua Flaithbertaigh, King of Iar Connacht, the OConnor kings became kings of Connacht. OConnor then built a castle at Tuam and made it his principal stronghold and this event was directly responsible for the subsequent rise in the importance of the town. Its position dominated the Iar Connacht heartland of Maigh Seóla, in the twelfth century, the town became the centre of Provincial power during the fifty-year reign of Tairrdelbach Ua Conchobair. He also brought Tuam its most prominent status as seat of the High King of Ireland which he achieved by force of arms during his long career. At the Synod of Kells in 1152, the centre of government also became the centre, as Tuam was erected into an Archbishopric. Tairrdelbach was succeeded by his son Ruaidrí Ua Conchobair, the last native High King of Ireland, in 1164, Ruaidrí had a wonderful castle erected, with a large courtyard defended by lofty and massive walls and a deep moat into which the adjacent river was diverted through. This was the first Irish built stone castle, a small part of the castle still stands

13.
Sligo GAA
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The Sligo County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association or Sligo GAA is one of the 32 county boards of the GAA in Ireland, and is responsible for Gaelic games in County Sligo. The county board is responsible for the Sligo inter-county teams. Sligo play in the Connacht Senior Football Championship but have managed to ever win three senior provincial titles, winning in 1928,1975 and 2007. Sligo have never appeared in an All-Ireland final, the 1922 Championship is the closest they have come, defeating Roscommon, Mayo and Galway to win the Connacht title, and beating Tipperary in the subsequent All-Ireland semi-final that followed. However, a flimsy technicality led to a replay of the Connacht final against Galway, in club football, no Sligo team has ever appeared in an All-Ireland Senior Club Football Championship final. St. Marys is the only Sligo team to have won the Connacht Senior Club Football Championship. Eastern Harps, Curry and Tourlestrane have all appeared in Connacht finals and they have won only three Connacht championships, with an approximate gap of fifty years between each win. These championships came in 1928,1975 and 2007, the continuation of such a run would not see the Connacht title return to Sligo until some point in the middle of the 21st century. Sligo have never appeared in an All-Ireland final, the 1922 Championship is the closest they have come, defeating Roscommon, Mayo and Galway to win the Connacht title, and beating Tipperary in the subsequent All-Ireland semi-final that followed. However an objection from Galway on what is described as a flimsy technicality led to the Connacht decider being brought to a replay, which Sligo went on to lose. This gives Sligo the unique statistic of having qualified for an All-Ireland Senior Football Championship Final, in 1954, Sligo reached the Connacht final against Galway, only for an equalising goal in the final minute to be disallowed. The new format together with a period of competing in Division 1 of the National Football League helped bring about an upward turn in the countys fortunes. On 8 July 2007, Sligo claimed their first Connacht title since 1975 with a one-point victory over Galway, the following year they were trashed by Mayo and ended up in the Tommy Murphy Cup following on from a league campaign that had seen them relegated to Division 4. Star player Eamonn OHara said he was embarrassed by the rapid decline back into mediocrity. On 27 June 2010, Sligo hosted Galway in a game which Sligo led 1–8 to 0–2 at halftime but were shocked by an undeserved draw ending 1–10 each, the replay saw Sligo defeat the Tribesmen on the scoreline 1–14 to 0–16 to advance to the Connacht Senior Football Final. Once there, after all their work and continued misfortune. Sligo football descended to a new depth on 26 May 2013 when they were dumped out of the Connacht Championship by London in their first game, the scoreline was 1-12 to 0-14. This was Londons first victory in the Connacht Championship since 1977, lorcan Mulvey scored the vital London goal

14.
Louth GAA
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The Louth County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association or Louth GAA is one of the 32 county boards of the GAA in Ireland, and is responsible for Gaelic games in County Louth. The county board is responsible for the Louth inter-county championship. The earliest recorded inter-county football match took place in 1712 when Louth faced Meath at Slane, a fragment of a poem from 1806 records a football match between Louth and Fermanagh at Inniskeen, Co Monaghan. When Louth GAA sent the team training in Dundalk for the 1913 Croke Memorial replay under a soccer trainer from Belfast. For thirty years full-time training in bursts of a week or so before a big match were common, after that the two or three times a week gatherings became more popular. Between 1945 and 1953 Louth and Meath met 13 times, the crowds got bigger and bigger each time as they played draw after draw in the Championship. The attendance of 42,858 at a thrilling 1951 replay remained a record for a provincial match other than a final for forty years the four series between Meath and Dublin in 1991. The rivalry with Meath has never fizzled out, as witnessed by a stirring Leinster semi-final in 1998, nor has controversy, as witnessed by Graham Geraghtys wide 45th minute point. In 1957 showband star Dermot OBrien was late for the All-Ireland final, prior to the game OBrien had captained the side in the semi final success, when the regular captain Patsy Coleman had been injured. Both Ardee men tossed a coin to see who would captain the team, Coleman today still has the match ball. OBrien played a key role as Louth beat Cork with the help of a goal from Sean Cunningham with five minutes to go, Dermot OBrien died on 21 May 2007. As both Cork and Louth wear Red and White, on that day Louth wore the green of Leinster, while Cork wore the blue of Munster. Eamonn McEneaney was manager from 2006 to 2009 and guided them to their most recent success, on 27 June 2010, Louth reached their first Leinster Senior Championship Final in 50 years. However, Meath received the 2010 Leinster Title and the cup, Louth have been represented by two players in the International Rules versus Australia in recent years, Paddy Keenan and Ciaran Byrne. On 11 July 2010, Louth reached the Leinster Senior Football Championship Final where they took on neighbours Meath, Meath won what was a highly controversial match. Deep into injury time in the 74th minute of the match and he did so after a brief consultation with only one of the match umpires, although television coverage of the game showed that the ball had been carried over the line by Meath player Joe Sherdian. Prior to the decision, Meath were trailing Louth by one point. The referee blew his whistle shortly afterwards, the goal proved to be the decisive score

15.
Westmeath GAA
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The Westmeath County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association or Westmeath GAA is one of the 32 county boards of the GAA in Ireland, and is responsible for Gaelic games in County Westmeath. The county board is responsible for the Westmeath inter-county teams. Westmeaths GAA history is that of a county which only recently rose to the higher ranks of Gaelic football. Its 2004 Leinster provincial title was presaged by a 1995 All-Ireland Minor title, another generation of Westmeath players took part in the first week-night fixture in the GAA championship, on 20 June 1935 they played Meath in Kells and lost by 2-7 to 0-9. The footballers won the 1929 junior championship, lost to Dublin by ten points in 1960 and they beat Carlow, Laois and Offaly to go into a 1949 final against Meath, but were well beaten on both occasions. Twenty years later they reached the National Football League semi-final, Westmeath beat Dublin again in the 1967 Championship and the 1984 Centenary Cup campaign and qualified for their second League semi-final in 1994. In 2001, the team went on an All-Ireland journey through an unprecedented nine games including an extra time win over Mayo in Roscommon, Westmeath lost out to Meath in a quarter-final replay. Disappointing 2002 and 2003 seasons followed and Westmeath parted terms with its then manager, Kerry footballing legend Páidí Ó Sé was brought in to manage the senior team some months later, after he had been removed from the Kerry Senior team management. The following year, Westmeath progressed to the 2004 Leinster Senior Football Championship Final, however the team tamely exitted their second All-Ireland Quarter Final - losing to Derry. The documentary Marooned followed Westmeath during their 2004 season, Ó Sé quit Westmeath at the end of a very poor 2005 season and was replaced by his assistant Tomás Ó Flatharta. After a poor campaign, in which they were nevertheless promoted from Division 2. Westmeath did not live up to expectations in the Quarter Final meeting against Dublin, the score line was Westmeath 0-15, Dublin 0-10. In the Quarter-Finals of the Leinster Championship in 2009 they were beaten by Dublin by 27 points, Ó Flatharta resigned as Westmeath manager after their defeat to neighbours Meath on 11 July 2009. Results have improved in recent years and they have reached consecutive Leinster Finals in 2015 and 2016 and they played in the first division of the National Hurling League in 1985-86, and were the only team to beat Galway in an 18-month period. This team included the 3 Kilcoyne brothers and produced an All Star award for David who was the teams free taker, the first All Star award for any Westmeath player in Hurling or football. Rickardstowns John Jobber McGrath is considered the greatest player to play hurling for Westmeath. The senior hurlers beat Carlow by 2 points in the Leinster Qualifier group and extended their winning run beating favourites, the hurlers currently play in the third tier of the National Hurling League while the footballers play in the fourth tier of the National Football League respectively. In 2005, the county won the first Christy Ring Cup, in 2006, they beat Dublin in the first round of the Leinster Senior Hurling Championship before losing the semi final to Kilkenny in Mullingar by 14 points

16.
Drogheda
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Drogheda is one of the oldest towns in Ireland, known for its tourism and as a centre of industry, and medical care. It is located in County Louth on the Dublin-Belfast corridor on the east coast of Ireland,49 km or 30 miles north of Dublin. It is the last bridging point on the River Boyne before it enters the Irish Sea. The UNESCO World Heritage Site of Newgrange is located 8 km to west of the town. As the River Boyne divides the dioceses of Armagh and Meath, in 1412 these two towns were united and Drogheda became a County Corporate, styled as the County of the Town of Drogheda. With the passing of the County of Louth and Borough of Drogheda Provisional Order,1976, the boundary was further altered in 1994 by the Local Government Regulations 1994. The 2007–2013 Meath County Development Plan recognises the Meath environs of Drogheda as a growth centre on a par with Navan. In recent years Droghedas economy has diversified from its traditional industries, with an number of people employed in the retail, services. The town also has a community of independent artists and musicians who have been looking to the economy rather than Dublin for employment. Drogheda was also selected to host Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann 2018, Drogheda has a hinterland of 70, 000+ within a 15 kilometres radius covering County Louth and County Meath. According to the 2011 Irish Census, there are 30,393 in Drogheda town, the results of the numerous and often large-scale excavations carried out within the area of the medieval town in the past ten years appear to have confirmed this statement. The wall on the east side of Rosemary’s Lane is the oldest stone structure in Drogheda and it was completed in 1234 as the west wall of the first castle guarding access to the northern crossing point of the Boyne. The earliest known charter is that granted to Drogheda-in-Meath by Walter de lacy in 1194. In the 1600s the name of the town was also spelled Tredagh in keeping with the common pronunciation, Drogheda was an important walled town in the English Pale in the medieval period. It frequently hosted meetings of the Irish Parliament at that time and it later came to light, that the Queen herself was implicated in the orders given. The parliament was moved to the town in 1494 and passed Poynings Law, the most significant legislation in Irish history and this effectively subordinated the Irish Parliaments legislative powers to the King and his English Council. The town was besieged twice during the Irish Confederate Wars, in his own words after the siege of Drogheda, When they submitted, their officers were knocked on the head, and every tenth man of the soldiers killed and the rest shipped to Barbados. The Earldom of Drogheda was created in the Peerage of Ireland in 1661, the Battle of the Boyne,1690, occurred some 6 km west of the town, on the banks of the River Boyne, at Oldbridge. In 1790 Drogheda Harbour Commissioners established, later Drogheda Port Company In 1825 the Drogheda Steam Packet Company was formed in the town, in 1837 the population of Drogheda area was 17,365 of whom 15,138 lived in the town

17.
Dublin senior football team
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The Dublin Gaelic football team is the most supported GAA team in terms of attendance which is made up of 286 clubs. The team and its fans are known as The Dubs or The Jacks, the fans have a special affiliation with the Hill 16 end of Croke Park. Dublin GAA has jurisdiction over the area that is associated with the county of County Dublin. There are 9 officers on the Board including the Cathaoirleach, Seán Shanley, for details on the Boards clubs, see Gaelic Athletic Association clubs in County Dublin and List of Gaelic games clubs in Ireland. The Board is subject to the Leinster GAA Provincial Council, the teams of Dublin GAA play home games at Parnell Park, Donnycarney on the northside of the city, although Croke Park is used for major matches at the request of the GAA. Parnell Park also hosts all the games in the Dublin club Football. The current senior manager is Jim Gavin. The current senior hurling team manager is Ger Cunningham, meanwhile, the hurlers retained their status in the Liam MacCarthy Cup. Plans to divide Dublin into two teams – North Dublin and South Dublin – were proposed in 2002 but rejected by the Dublin County Board, currently the Board has only decided to divide its development teams. These teams are not considered to be a move towards dividing the county but are in fact a move designed to identify, the restructured developments teams are North, South and West. Dublin supporters are known as The Dubs, and in the 1970s as Heffos army. While songs are popular with the Dublin fans they tend to be Dublin-centric such as Molly Malone. The Hill 16 end in Croke Park is an area for which many Dubs hold a special affection, Dublin supporters have been known to chant Hill 16 is Dublin only as a humorous jibe at supporters from rival teams. The Dublin team are sometimes called The Jacks with the ladies called The Jackies and these names came from a shortening of the word Jackeen. Notable fans include Jim Stynes, golfer Pádraig Harrington, rugby union star Brian ODriscoll, in 2003/4, the Dublin County Board tried unsuccessfully to copyright the Dublin crest in use at the time. The crest at the time was declared to be in the domain by the Irish High Court as it was too similar to other crests in use by Dublin City Council. The name Áth Cliath in Irish replaces the previous name Dublin, till 1918, Dublin wore the colours of the Club Champions as many other counties. The change to the present look, with blue details, shorts

18.
Kildare GAA
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The Kildare County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association, or Kildare GAA, is one of 12 county boards governed by the Leinster provincial council of the GAA in Ireland. The county board regulates Gaelic games in County Kildare and is responsible for the inter-county teams. Kildare won 57 All Ireland titles. Alex Mackey is said to be the greatest Kildare player of all time, Gaelic games predate recorded sporting history in Kildare. Hurling on Lyons Hill was featured in the Book of Leinster, the Curragh of Kildare was the venue for the fairs and festivals of ancient Ireland called the Aonach Colmáin. Local references to football go back to medieval times, an English traveller, John Dundon, described a hurling match in Naas in 1699. A handball alley near Rathangan bears the date 1790, though the oldest known alley is located near Moone, a match at Timolin in February 1792, resulted in a riot that was reported in local newspapers. There is also a reference to an inter-county match between Kildare and Meath GAA in 1797 which was attended by Lord Edward Fitzgerald. Valentine Lawless, Lord of Cloncurry, describes how Wogan Browne, summer athletics meetings in Kildare predate the GAA. John Wyse Power, then editor of local newspaper The Leinster Leader, in February 1885, Sallins GAA, Straffan GAA, Naas GAA and the Suncroft GAA played in the first four football matches governed under new GAA rules. A county committee was established in 1887, Kildare entered the second championships in 1888 and was represented by Clane GAA. Tommy Conneff from Clane, who went on to hold the record for the mile, was among the first GAA athletic champions. Kildare first entered the All-Ireland Senior Football Championship in 1888, Kildare made a major contribution towards the evolution of rules and tactics in gaelic football. The county was the first to abandon the tradition of playing 21 people on each team, Kildare players invented the hand pass, a polished team tactic since 1903, Mick Micko ODwyer from Kerry is said to have invented it. The toe-to-hand was pioneered by the Roseberry club, kildare’s four All-Ireland titles were won between 1905 and 1928, over Kerry in 1905, Galway in 1919, and Kerry again in the 1927 and 1928 finals. Kildare became the first team to win the Sam Maguire Cup in 1928, tactics such as the hand pass were perfected by those early Kildare teams, but they also developed what became traditional catch-and-kick football. Olympic high jumper Larry Stanley was regarded as one of the greatest fielders in the history of the game, the county lost six Leinster finals in the twelve years between 1966 and 1978. Although the Raheens club won a Leinster Senior Club Football Championship title in 1983, in 1991, former Kerry manager Mick ODwyer took charge of the county football team. Kildare lost two more Leinster finals to Dublin in 1992 and 1993, as well as the National League final of 1991, when Dublin came back for a draw in 1994 and won the replay, ODwyer was succeeded by Dermot Earley for two years

19.
Croke Park
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Croke Park is a GAA stadium located in Dublin, Ireland. Named in honour of Archbishop Thomas Croke, it is often called Croker by some GAA fans and it serves both as the principal stadium and headquarters of the Gaelic Athletic Association. Since 1884 the site has been used primarily by the GAA to host Gaelic games, most notably the annual All-Ireland finals in football and hurling. Both the opening and closing ceremonies of the 2003 Special Olympics, during the construction of the Aviva Stadium, Croke Park hosted games played by the Ireland national rugby union team and the Republic of Ireland national football team. The area now known as Croke Park was owned in the 1880s by Maurice Butterly and known as the City and Suburban Racecourse, from 1890 it was also used by the Bohemian Football Club. In 1901 Jones Road hosted the IFA Cup football final when Cliftonville defeated Freebooters, recognising the potential of the Jones Road sports ground a journalist and GAA member, Frank Dineen, borrowed much of the £3,250 asking price and bought the ground in 1908. In 1913 the GAA came into ownership of the plot when they purchased it from Dineen for £3,500. The ground was then renamed Croke Park in honour of Archbishop Thomas Croke, in 1913, Croke Park had only two stands on what is now known as the Hogan stand side and grassy banks all round. In 1917, a hill was constructed on the railway end of Croke Park to afford patrons a better view of the pitch. This terrace was known as Hill 16 as it was built from the ruins of the 1916 Easter Rising, in the 1920s, the GAA set out to create a high capacity stadium at Croke Park. Following the Hogan Stand, the Cusack Stand, named after Michael Cusack from Clare, was built in 1927,1936 saw the first double-deck Cusack Stand open with 5,000 seats, and concrete terracing being constructed on Hill 16. In 1952 the Nally Stand was built in memorial of Pat Nally, seven years later, to celebrate the 75th anniversary of the GAA, the first cantilevered New Hogan Stand was opened. The highest attendance recorded at an All-Ireland Senior Football Championship Final was 90,556 for Offaly v Down in 1961. Since the introduction of seating to the Cusack stand in 1966, during the Irish War of Independence on 21 November 1920 Croke Park was the scene of a massacre by the Royal Irish Constabulary. The Police, supported by the British Auxiliary Division entered the ground, the dead included 13 spectators and Tipperary player, Michael Hogan. Posthumously, the Hogan stand built in 1924 was named in his honour, in 1984 the organisation decided to investigate ways to increase the capacity of the old stadium. The design for an 80,000 capacity stadium was completed in 1991, Gaelic sports have special requirements as they take place on a large field. A specific requirement was to ensure the spectators were not too far from the field of play and this resulted in the three-tier design from which viewing games is possible, the main concourse, a premium level incorporating hospitality facilities and an upper concourse

20.
Dublin
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Dublin is the capital and largest city of Ireland. Dublin is in the province of Leinster on Irelands east coast, the city has an urban area population of 1,345,402. The population of the Greater Dublin Area, as of 2016, was 1,904,806 people, founded as a Viking settlement, the Kingdom of Dublin became Irelands principal city following the Norman invasion. The city expanded rapidly from the 17th century and was briefly the second largest city in the British Empire before the Acts of Union in 1800, following the partition of Ireland in 1922, Dublin became the capital of the Irish Free State, later renamed Ireland. Dublin is administered by a City Council, the city is listed by the Globalization and World Cities Research Network as a global city, with a ranking of Alpha-, which places it amongst the top thirty cities in the world. It is a historical and contemporary centre for education, the arts, administration, economy, the name Dublin comes from the Irish word Dubhlinn, early Classical Irish Dubhlind/Duibhlind, dubh /d̪uβ/, alt. /d̪uw/, alt /d̪u, / meaning black, dark, and lind /lʲiɲ pool and this tidal pool was located where the River Poddle entered the Liffey, on the site of the castle gardens at the rear of Dublin Castle. In Modern Irish the name is Duibhlinn, and Irish rhymes from Dublin County show that in Dublin Leinster Irish it was pronounced Duílinn /d̪ˠi, other localities in Ireland also bear the name Duibhlinn, variously anglicized as Devlin, Divlin and Difflin. Historically, scribes using the Gaelic script wrote bh with a dot over the b and those without knowledge of Irish omitted the dot, spelling the name as Dublin. Variations on the name are found in traditionally Irish-speaking areas of Scotland, such as An Linne Dhubh. It is now thought that the Viking settlement was preceded by a Christian ecclesiastical settlement known as Duibhlinn, beginning in the 9th and 10th century, there were two settlements where the modern city stands. Baile Átha Cliath, meaning town of the ford, is the common name for the city in modern Irish. Áth Cliath is a name referring to a fording point of the River Liffey near Father Mathew Bridge. Baile Átha Cliath was an early Christian monastery, believed to have been in the area of Aungier Street, there are other towns of the same name, such as Àth Cliath in East Ayrshire, Scotland, which is Anglicised as Hurlford. Although the area of Dublin Bay has been inhabited by humans since prehistoric times and he called the settlement Eblana polis. It is now thought that the Viking settlement was preceded by a Christian ecclesiastical settlement known as Duibhlinn, beginning in the 9th and 10th century, there were two settlements where the modern city stands. The subsequent Scandinavian settlement centred on the River Poddle, a tributary of the Liffey in an area now known as Wood Quay, the Dubhlinn was a small lake used to moor ships, the Poddle connected the lake with the Liffey. This lake was covered during the early 18th century as the city grew, the Dubhlinn lay where the Castle Garden is now located, opposite the Chester Beatty Library in Dublin Castle

21.
Irish Civil War
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The civil war was waged between two opposing groups, Irish republicans and Irish nationalists, over the Anglo-Irish Treaty. The forces of the Provisional Government supported the Treaty, while the Republican opposition saw it as a betrayal of the Irish Republic, many of those who fought on both sides in the conflict had been members of the Irish Republican Army during the War of Independence. The Civil War was won by the Free State forces, which were armed with weapons provided by the British Government. The conflict may have claimed more lives than the War of Independence that preceded it, today, two of the main political parties in the Republic of Ireland, Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael, are direct descendants of the opposing sides of the war. The Anglo-Irish Treaty was agreed to end the 1919–1921 Irish War of Independence between the Irish Republic and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, the treaty provided for a self-governing Irish state, having its own army and police. The Treaty also allowed Northern Ireland to opt out of the new state, the British suggested this dominion in secret correspondence even before treaty negotiations began, but Sinn Féin leader Éamon de Valera rejected the dominion. The treaty also stipulated that members of the new Irish Oireachtas would have to take the following Oath of Allegiance I and this oath was highly objectionable to many Irish Republicans. Furthermore, the partition of Ireland, which had already decided by the Westminster parliament in the Government of Ireland Act 1920, was effectively confirmed in the Anglo-Irish treaty. All these issues were the cause of a split in the IRA, however, anti-treaty militants in 1922 believed that the treaty would never deliver full Irish independence. The split over the treaty was deeply personal, many of the leaders on both sides had been close friends and comrades during the War of Independence. This made their disagreement over the treaty all the more bitter and he said that he felt deeply betrayed when de Valera refused to stand by the agreement that the plenipotentiaries had negotiated with David Lloyd George and Winston Churchill. De Valera, for his part, was furious that Collins, Dáil Éireann narrowly passed the Anglo-Irish Treaty by 64 votes to 57 on 7 January 1922. Following the Treatys ratification, in accordance with article 17 of the Treaty and its authority under the Treaty was to provide a provisional arrangement for the administration of Southern Ireland during the interval before the establishment of the Irish Free State. In accordance with the Treaty, the British Government transferred the powers, before the British Government transferred such powers, the members of the Provisional Government each signified in writing acceptance of. Upon the Treatys ratification, de Valera resigned as President of the Republic and he challenged the right of the Dáil to approve the treaty, saying that its members were breaking their oath to the Irish Republic. De Valera continued to promote a compromise whereby the new Irish Free State would be in association with the British Commonwealth rather than be a member of it. In early March, he formed the Cumann na Poblachta party while remaining a member of Sinn Féin and commenced a speaking tour of the more republican province of Munster on 17 March 1922. In a letter to the Irish Independent on 23 March, de Valera accepted the accuracy of their report of his comment about wading through blood, but deplored that the newspaper had published it

22.
Tipperary GAA
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For a list of honours won by Tipperary in hurling, football, camogie and handall competitions see Tipperary GAA honours. For a history of GAA in Tipperary in see History of Tipperary inter county teams, County Tipperary holds an honoured place in the history of the GAA as the organisation was founded in Hayes Hotel, Thurles, on 1 November 1884. Tipperary are currently sponsored by Intersport/Elverys, a sponsorship that covers both the hurling and football codes and includes all grades from minor to senior inter-county teams, Tipperary GAA has jurisdiction over the area that is associated with the traditional county of County Tipperary. There are 9 officers on the Board including the Cathaoirleach, Sean Nugent, the original colours of Tipperary GAA were a white jersey with a green diagonal sash. This jersey design is associated with Tipperarys most historic match in either code, the current jersey is blue with a gold central band. This crest was used until the late 1990s when the current crest, four Tipperary men have served as President of the GAA. Maurice Davin is also the man to have served two terms as President while Seán Ryan represented Dublin from 1928 to 1932, though a native of Kilfeacle. Mr. Ryan a solicitor based in the capital, was the Associations legal advisor over a period and played a central role in the acquisition and vesting of many club. Maurice Davin 1884–1887 Maurice Davin 1888–1889 Seán Ryan 1928–1932 Séamus Gardiner 1943–1946 Séamus ORíain 1967–1970 In the All-Ireland series and this rivalry has lasted since Kilkennys coming to power in the early 20th century. Tipp are the team to have beaten Kilkenny in the All Ireland senior hurling championship more times than they have lost. Another rival of Tipperary is Cork in the Munster Championship and these teams have met 80 times in the championship, more than any other rivalry in hurling. They have also met them countless times in the National League, a Tipp and Cork Munster hurling final in Semple Stadium is often claimed by supporters of both counties to be the most traditional Munster final and the games between them are nearly always close. The draw and replay games of 1987 and 1991 and the 1949–1954 rivalry encapsulates this rivalry and this is one of the few rivalries in the provincial championships that is contested by two teams of similar stature whose honours and titles complement each other on a fairly equal basis. Kilkenny and Wexford in hurling have major difference in titles and in football, Dublin, the football teams of Galway and Mayo enjoy a similar rivalry and whose honours are divided in equal measure. Tipperarys team colors are blue and gold. Tipperary wear blue jerseys with a gold bar across the center along with white shorts. The Tippeary team crest features the Rock of Cashel prominently with two crossed hurleys and a Gaelic football below, in the year 1884 when Tipperary GAA was founded is in the center of the crest. The teams of the Tipperary County Board, together with Kilkenny GAA, the Boards teams have won 27 All-Ireland titles as of 2016 - the third most successful of all county boards

23.
Armagh GAA
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The Armagh County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association or Armagh GAA is one of the 32 county boards of the GAA in Ireland, and is responsible for Gaelic games in County Armagh. The county board is responsible for the Armagh inter-county teams. Armaghs county colours are Orange and White, Armagh has a long tradition of football. Several clubs were already in existence before the formation of the County Board in 1889, Armagh became only the second team to win the Ulster Senior Football Championship in 1890. In the early years of the GAA, a club won its county championship went on to represent the county. Armagh Harps represented Armagh in the Ulster final, beating Tyrone, the county won the All-Ireland Minor Football Championship, in 1949 and again in 2009. It lost the 1957 All-Ireland Minor final to Meath, after a disappointing 2009 campaign which resulted in Armagh being defeated by Tyrone, Peter McDonnell stepped down as Armagh manager. He was replaced by Paddy ORourke, who is from the county of Down. In his first year as manager, Armagh won the Division 2 NFL title and was promoted to Division 1 for 2011 and they remained in Division 1 for 2012 but moved to Division 2 for 2013. Paul Grimley took over in 2013 and after a year took the county to the quarter final of the All Ireland losing by a point to Donegal in 2014. It was the first quarter final appearance since 2008 and Grimley resigned afterwards allowing his assistant Kieran McGeeney to take over. McKenna Cup,91929,1931,1938,1939,1949,1950,1986,1990,1994 Dr Lagan Cups,1954,1955,1956 Armagh has a total of 24 All Star awards. 1972, P. Moriarty 1977, Joe Kernan, J. Smyth, P. However, in recent years the county hurlers have shown a marked improvement under the guidance of manager Mattie Lennon and his assistant Ger Rogan. In 2006 Armagh won the NHL Division 3 championship, winning all their games in the stages before beating Louth 3-10 to 1-11 in the final at Breffni Park in Cavan. The step up to Division 2 proved to be a one for the men from the Orchard County. While the team failed to win any of their games they were unfortunate to lose to Meath. Heavier defeats were suffered at the hands of more established counties such as Derry, Armagh returned to the Ulster Senior Hurling Championship in May 2007 for the first time in almost 60 years with a match against Derry. Despite putting in a performance the team lost out on the chance of a semi-final encounter with neighbours Down to an injury-time score

24.
Derry GAA
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The Derry County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association or Derry GAA is one of the 32 county boards of the GAA in Ireland. It is responsible for games in County Londonderry in Northern Ireland. The county board is responsible for the Derry inter-county teams. Gaelic football is the most popular of the county boards gaelic games, the senior football team won an All-Ireland Senior Football Championship in 1993, and has also won six National League titles and seven Ulster Championships. Within a year of the GAAs foundation in 1884, GAA clubs were established around the county in Derry, Desertmartin, however, the administration of Gaelic sports in the county took some time to get properly organised. A Derry county board was established in 1888 and paid affiliation fees to the GAA Central Council, by the following year, although 14 clubs were active, the then GAA President Maurice Davin told the national Congress that the county lacked enough clubs to have its own board. South Derry and North Derry regional boards were established in the 1890s, in the early decades, the Derry GAA competitions took in a number of clubs from County Donegal and Tyrone. At various times clubs in South Derry played in the Antrim GAA or Tyrone leagues, the local Catholic Churchs opposition to playing games on Sundays hampered growth in the 1890s, but there was something of a revival in the 1900s, especially in hurling. The county also competed sporadically in the Ulster Football Championship from 1904, after the disruption caused by political conflict in the 1910s and early 20s, the county board was re-established briefly in 1926, and definitively in 1929, since when it has remained in existence. Derry home games are played in the county grounds at Celtic Park, home football games are also sometimes held in Watty Graham Park, Glen or Dean McGlinchey Park, Ballinascreen, which are regarded as secondary stadia. Hurling games are held at Lavey or Fr McNally Park. The current senior manager is Brian McIver of Balinderry, while Ger Rogan has been appointed Derry senior hurling manager for the incoming season. Both managers also take charge of their respective Under 21 County teams, the Minor football manager is Barry Dillon, while Dee Doherty is in charge of the Minor hurlers. The GAA in the county is administered by a County Committee with a representative from each GAA club in the County, a Management Committee, the county administrative headquarters and centre of excellence are located at Owenbeg, Dungiven. In 1947 Derry won the National Football League, the group leaders were invited to play in the League semi-finals because heavy snow had disrupted the competition. Francie Niblock scored one of the finest goals in League history in Croke Park as Derry beat Clare, in the final, Derry scored a goal ten minutes into the second half through Owen Gribben, but Dublin secured victory with Paddy Farnan and Johnny Joyce goals. In 1965 the Derry Minor team won the All-Ireland Minor Championship, Derry won the Ulster Senior Championship three times in the 1970s, but failed to advance past the All-Ireland semi-final stage on each occasion. In 1973 Anthony McGurk became the first player from Derry to be awarded an All Star Award, the 1980s saw the county win two further All-Ireland Minor Championships and their fifth Ulster Senior Championship

25.
Donegal GAA
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The Donegal County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association or Donegal GAA is one of the GAAs 32 county boards in Ireland. It is responsible for Gaelic games in County Donegal, the county board is also responsible for the Donegal inter-county teams. There are currently 40 clubs under the auspices of the Donegal County Board, the Donegal senior football team is a major force in Gaelic football. Currently regarded as one of the best teams in the sport, Donegal players comprised most of the 2012 All Stars Team of the Year, and the three nominations for the All Stars Footballer of the Year, ultimately won by Karl Lacey. McGuinnesss services have also sought by Premier League soccer teams. In terms of style, the system deployed by the Donegal senior football team has been likened to that of the Spanish association football team FC Barcelona. They are also one of five counties to have defeated Kerry in their first Championship meeting — the others being Down, Derry, Dublin. Despite the colours have always the same during the years. The classic Donegal kit was indeed composed by a shirt with a golden hoop, white shorts and green. In 1966 the board opted for golden shirts but they turned green after only a short period, in 1992, when they reached the semifinal against Mayo, they had to use a change kit which was a yellow shirt with green sleeves and green shorts. Due to the victory against the favorite Connacht side, they decided to retain this colour combination for the final against Dublin. Donegal won their first All-Ireland title and since then they have favoured a yellow/gold shirt, usually Donegal wore as change kit yellow shirts or black and yellow ones. Since they use yellow as primary colour, change kits have been green or white, the first Donegal County Board was formed in 1905, with its first football game being against Derry on 17 March 1906. Donegal made their first appearance at Croke Park on Sunday 6 April 1952, the occasion was a National Football League semi-final and their opponents that day were Cork. 1960s The sixties saw Donegal emerge as a force with victories to match their undoubted abilities. Amazingly, Donegal’s first appearance in an Ulster senior final was not until 1963, followed by an appearance in 1966. The county came to the fore of Ulster football in the 1970s, the win coincided with the countys first All Star—in the form of Brian McEniff—in the second year of the awards existence. Reigning All-Ireland champions Offaly defeated the Ulster champions in the All-Ireland Senior Football Championship semi-final on the way to their second consecutive All-Ireland title, a second provincial title followed for Donegal in 1974

26.
Strabane
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Strabane, historically spelt Straban, is a town in West Tyrone, Northern Ireland. It was the headquarters of the former Strabane District Council, Strabane has a population of around 18,000, which is mainly Irish nationalist. It is the second-largest town in Tyrone, after Omagh and it lies on the east bank of the River Foyle and is roughly equidistant from Omagh, Derry City and Letterkenny. The River Foyle marks the border between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland, on the other side of the river is the smaller town of Lifford, which is the county town of County Donegal. The Mourne flows through the centre of the town, and meets the Finn to form the Foyle River, in the 1600s the town was settled by Scottish families, an action that preceded the Plantation of Ulster. In 1608 during ODohertys Rebellion most of the fled to the safety of Lifford following Sir Cahir ODohertys Burning of Derry. Strabane once had the distinction of the highest unemployment rate in the Industrial World. It is one of the most economically deprived towns in the United Kingdom, Strabane suffered huge economic damage in 1987 when much of the centre of the town was flooded. Strabane had been moved out of the top 20 in the 2007 edition, Strabane was once the most bombed town in Europe per size and was the most bombed town in Northern Ireland. Many civilians and members of the security forces were killed or injured in the area over the course of the Troubles, many British Army regiments from England, Scotland and Wales served in Strabane at various times during the Troubles in the Barracks at the locally named Camels hump. As a result of the Good Friday Agreement, there is no longer any British Army presence in the town, Strabane became involved in the Ulster Project International, sending Catholic and Protestant teenagers to the United States for prejudice-reduction work. The Irish gauge 5 ft 3 in Londonderry and Enniskillen Railway reached Strabane in 1847, Omagh in 1852, the Great Northern Railway took over the L&ER in 1883. The Finn Valley Railway opened from Strabane to Stranorlar in 1863, the FV was originally Irish gauge but in 1892 it merged with the 3 ft narrow gauge West Donegal Railway to form the Donegal Railway and was reduced to the same narrow gauge for through running. The Donegal Railway opened its own line to Derry in 1900, in 1906 the GNR and Northern Counties Committee jointly took over the Donegal Railway, making it the County Donegal Railways Joint Committee. The 3 ft gauge Strabane and Letterkenny Railway opened in 1909 and was worked by the Joint Committee, the narrow gauge lines made Strabane one of the most important railway connections for County Donegal. The partition of Ireland in 1922 turned the boundary with County Donegal into an international frontier and this changed trade patterns to the railways detriment and placed border posts on the Joint Committees FV and S&L lines and on the GNR line to Derry. Stops for customs inspections greatly delayed trains and disrupted timekeeping, the Joint Committees Strabane-Derry line was closed in 1954, followed by the remainder of the narrow gauge system in 1960. In 1958 the Ulster Transport Authority took over the remaining GNR lines on the Northern Ireland side of the border, in accordance with The Benson Report submitted to the Northern Ireland Government in 1963, the UTA closed the former GNR line through Strabane to Derry in 1965

27.
Antrim GAA
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For more details on Antrim GAA see Antrim Senior Football Championship or Antrim Senior Hurling Championship. The Antrim County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association or Antrim GAA is one of the 32 county boards of the GAA in Ireland, the county board is also responsible for the Antrim inter-county teams. Antrim staged the first hurling match under the new Gaelic Athletic Association rules in Ulster in 1885, the games have always been well organised in Belfast city and hurling teams from the Glens have won considerable admiration in club competition. Antrim are the only Ulster county to appear in an All-Ireland hurling final, the first of which was in 1943 losing to Cork, in 1943 Antrim defeated both Galway and Kilkenny in the cramped surroundings of the old Corrigan Park, but disappointed in the All Ireland against Cork. Two years previously, Antrim had been graded Junior a year before and they were only competing in the Senior Championship because the Junior grade was abolished. Antrim hurlers featured strongly in Ulster Railway cup final appearances in 1945,1993 and 1995, in hurling, the progression that began with Loughgiels success at club hurling level in 1983 culminated in an All Ireland final appearance in 1989. The final was one of the poorest on record, as stage fright overcame the Antrim team and it was no flash in the pan, Antrim failed by just two points against Kilkenny in the 1991 All Ireland semi-final. Dunloy were back in the All Ireland club final in 1995, Antrim were the first Ulster county to appear in an All Ireland final, in 1911 and repeated the feat again in 1912, losing on both occasions. Antrims surprise football semi-final success came out of the blue in 1911, the Ulster secretary got sick that year and never organised a provincial Championship. So Antrim arrived with no practice to play Kilkenny and won by 3-1 to 1-1, the following year they beat even more prestigious rivals, Kerry. Heavy rain on the day, and over-indulgence at a wedding the day before were blamed for the shock 3-5 to 0-2 defeat, antrims County Board decision to introduce a City League in 1908, one of the first in Gaelic history, was a more legitimate explanation. The 1946 Antrim football team was regarded as one of the most exciting of the era, joe McCallins two goals helped beat Cavan in the Ulster final but Kerry roughed them out of the All Ireland semi-final. The opening of Casement Park boosted the games in Belfast, but from the late 1960s the troubles hampered sporting life in the heartlands of Belfast. Political violence meant that the county could not build on the team of 1969. The countys Vocational Schools team has made it to 2 All Ireland Finals in 1968 where they beat Galway, the current senior manager is Frank Fitzsimons. Antrim also made history in 2009 by getting to the Ulster Championship final and they were runners-up to All-Ireland champions Tyrone. Andy McCallin -1971 Issac Gerrad Curran -1980 Dual Star, Camogie arrived in 1908 with the foundation of Banba club, but the movement joined by clubs such as Crowleys, Mitchels and Ardoyne was short-lived. A1927 revival was more successful and in 1934 there were three leagues in Belfast, southwest and north Antrim

28.
Down GAA
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The Down County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association or Down GAA is one of the 32 county boards of the GAA in Ireland, and is responsible for the administration of Gaelic games in County Down. The county board is responsible for preparing the Down inter-county teams in the various Gaelic sporting codes, Football, hurling, camogie. Down share with Cavan the Ulster record for most All-Ireland victories at 5, as such, Down is regarded historically as a strong footballing county, and football is widely regarded as the dominant Gaelic sport within the county. In 2013, victory in the Christy Ring Cup final entitled Down to elect, if they chose, the oldest registered club in Down is St Patricks Mayobridge which was affiliated into the GAA on the 30th April 1888. With just one loss in six appearances in All Ireland finals, kitted out in their distinctive red and black, their massive fan base has been responsible for some of the largest match attendances in GAA history. Down was not regarded as a Gaelic stronghold when Queens University won the 1958 Sigerson Cup and they took the 1959 Ulster title with six inter-changeable forwards who introduced off-the-ball running and oddities such as track-suits. In that three-year period their loyal supporters smashed every attendance record in the book, when Down played Offaly in 1961 they set a record attendance of 90,556 for a GAA game. Against Dublin in the 1964 National League final a record 70,125 showed up, the 71,573 who watched them play Kerry in 1961 still stands as a record for an All-Ireland semi-final. In 1968, Down beat Kerry with Sean ONeill and John Murphy goals, despite a famous prediction that Down would go on to win three in a row, the county took twenty years to regain its status. In 1991, they surprised favourites Meath, Barry Breen giving them the goal that sent them into a lead of points with 20 minutes to go. In 1994, Mickey Linden sent James McCartan, Junior in for a goal directly under Hill 16 which silenced Dublin, down teams through the years have played with great emphasis on attack often leading to the neglect of the defence. This system has cost Down teams in the past 10 years or so with the introduction of negative tactics to quell forward lines with a massive emphasis on blanket defence. In 2008, Down defeated Tyrone after a replay in the Ulster Senior Football Championship, down went on to play Offaly in the All-Ireland SFC qualifiers. After a convincing 5-19 to 2-10 victory over Offaly, Down faced Laois in round 2 of the qualifiers. Beating Laois by a point, and with Dan Gordon being sent off. Down had Dan Gordons suspension removed, but awful conditions and poor Down performance resulted in a defeat to Wexford by a 2-13 to 0-12 scoreline, in 2010, Down reached the All-Ireland Final after a narrow win over Kildare in the Semi-Finals. They lost to Cork at GAA Headquarters, the first time Down has tasted defeat in the All-Ireland Final, Cork were three points down at half-time but they upped the ante in the second half and ran out 0-16 to 0-15 winners in the end. Present manager of Down Senior team, in 2010 Dan played in defence

29.
Derry
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Derry, officially Londonderry, is the second-largest city in Northern Ireland and the fourth-largest city on the island of Ireland. The name Derry is an anglicisation of the Old Irish name Daire meaning oak grove, in 1613, the city was granted a Royal Charter by King James I and gained the London prefix to reflect the funding of its construction by the London guilds. While the city is usually known colloquially as Derry, Londonderry is also commonly used. The old walled city lies on the west bank of the River Foyle, the city now covers both banks. The population of the city was 83,652 at the 2001 Census, the district administered by Derry City and Strabane District Council contains both Londonderry Port and City of Derry Airport. Derry is close to the border with County Donegal, with which it has had a link for many centuries. In 2013, Derry was the inaugural UK City of Culture, according to the citys Royal Charter of 10 April 1662, the official name is Londonderry. This was reaffirmed in a High Court decision in 2007 when Derry City Council sought guidance on the procedure for effecting a name change. The council had changed its name from Londonderry City Council to Derry City Council in 1984, the decision of the court was that it had not but it was clarified that the correct procedure to do so was via a petition to the Privy Council. Derry City Council since started this process and were involved in conducting an equality impact assessment report, then the EQIA held two consultative forums, and solicited comments from the general public on whether or not the city should have its name changed to Derry. A total of 12,136 comments were received, of which 3,108 were broadly in favour of the proposal, and 9,028 opposed to it. Despite the official name, the city is usually known as Derry, which is an anglicisation of the Irish Daire or Doire. The name derives from the settlements earliest references, Daire Calgaich, the name was changed from Derry in 1613 during the Plantation of Ulster to reflect the establishment of the city by the London guilds. In McCaffertys survey of language use in the city, only very few interviewees—all Protestants—use the official form, apart from the name of Derry City Council, the city is usually known as Londonderry in official use within the UK. In the Republic of Ireland, the city and county are almost always referred to as Derry, on maps, in the media and in conversation. Whereas official road signs in the Republic use the name Derry, usage varies among local organisations, with both names being used. Most companies within the city choose local area such as Pennyburn. Londonderry railway station is referred to as Waterside railway station within the city but is called Derry/Londonderry at other stations

30.
Cavan GAA
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The Cavan County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association or Cavan GAA is one of the 32 county boards of the GAA in Ireland, and is responsible for Gaelic games in Cavan. Cavan GAA has jurisdiction over the area that is associated with the county of County Cavan. There are 8 officers on the Board, for details on the Boards clubs, see Gaelic Athletic Association clubs in County Cavan and List of Gaelic games clubs in Ireland#Cavan. The Board is subject to the Ulster GAA Provincial Council, the teams of Cavan GAA play home games at Kingspan Breffni Park, Cavan. The current football manager is Mattie McGleenan who took over in October 2016, previously Hyland had led the under 21 team to two successive Ulster titles in 2011 and 2012. He also led the team to the All Ireland Under 21 Championship final in 2012 where they lost out to Galway. There was no sponsorship on GAA jerseys until the 2nd game of the Meath V Dublin 4 in a row in 1991 so only a handful of teams had sponsorship in 1991, in 1992 Holybrook Construction sponsored the jerseys although it was only for 1 game. For the 1993-94 seasons Cavan Co-op Mart took over sponsorship, Kingspan has continuously sponsored Cavan since 1995. The first crest that adorned the Cavan jerseys was the Coat of Arms for County Cavan. The crest was split into four quadrants and included the red hand of Ulster encased in an outline of the Franciscan Abbey which is situated in Cavan town, here also lies the remains of an Ulster leader, Eoghan Rua ONeill. The Rampant Lion from the coat of arms of the O’Reilly clans, in 2004 Cavan released a new crest for the Breifne County. The crest was designed by the 38th President of the Gaelic Athletic Association Aogán Farrell, the crest draws on cultural, physical and historical influences. The primary colours are blue and white with Ulsters red hand, the designers wanted to reflect the following elements Breifne, The ancient Gaelic territory. Here the O Reilly’s invited the Franciscans to establish a monastery, the OReilly chieftains are buried here. Here also lie the remains of Ulsters great leader, Eoghan Rua ONeill GAA Logo, the logo is representative of the Gaelic Athletic Association. Red Hand 1886, The first GAA club founded in the province of Ulster was formed in Cavan, Ballyconnell First Ulsters formed in 1885 and affiliated in 1886. The date is preserved in the crest, a red hand has always appeared on Cavan crests. Lakes and Hills, Our landscape is dominated by wee lakes, the environment shapes us and this is reflected on the new crest

31.
Dundalk
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Dundalk is the county town of County Louth, Ireland. It is on the Castletown River, which flows into Dundalk Bay and it has associations with the mythical warrior hero Cú Chulainn. The Dundalk area has been inhabited since at least 3500 BC, a tangible reminder of their presence can still be seen in the form of the Proleek Dolmen, the eroded remains of a megalithic tomb located in the Ballymascanlon area to the north of Dundalk. Celtic culture arrived in Ireland around 500 BC and their land now forms upper and lower Dundalk. Dundalk had been developed as an unwalled Sráid Bhaile. The streets passed along a ridge which runs from the present day Bridge Street in the North, through Church Street to Clanbrassil Street to Earl Street. In 1169 the Normans arrived in Ireland and set about conquering large areas, by 1185 a Norman nobleman named Bertram de Verdun erected a manor house at Castletown Mount and subsequently obtained the towns charter in 1189. Another Norman family, the De Courcys, led by John de Courcy, settled in the Seatown area of Dundalk, both families assisted in the fortification of the town, building walls and other fortification in the style of a Norman fortress. The town of Dundalk was developed as it lay close to a bridging point over the Castletown River and as a frontier town. In 1236 Bertrams granddaughter, Rohesia commissioned Castle Roche to fortify the region, the town was sacked in 1315, during the Bruce campaign. Dundalk had been under Royalist control for centuries, until 1647 when it occupied by The Northern Parliamentary Army of Colonel George Monck. The modern town of Dundalk largely owes its form to Lord Limerick in the 17th century and he commissioned the construction of streets leading to the town centre, his ideas came from many visits to Europe. In addition to the demolition of the old walls and castles, in the 19th century the town grew in importance and many industries were set up in the local area, including a large distillery. This development was helped considerably by the opening of railways, the expansion of the area or Quay. The partition of Ireland in May 1921 turned Dundalk into a border town, the Irish Free State opened customs and immigration facilities at Dundalk to check goods and passengers crossing the border by train. The Irish Civil War of 1922–23 saw a number of confrontations in Dundalk, Aiken did not try to hold the town, however, and before withdrawing he called for a truce in a meeting in the centre of Dundalk. The 49 Infantry Battalion and 58 Infantry Battalion of the National Army were based in Dundalk along with No.8 armoured locomotive and two fully armoured cars of their Railway Protection Corps. For several decades after the end of the Civil War, Dundalk continued to function as a town, a regional centre

32.
Sam Maguire Cup
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The Sam Maguire Cup was first presented to the Kildare team in 1928 after defeating Cavan. The Cup is named after Sam Maguire, a figure in the London GAA. A group of his friends formed a committee in Dublin under the chairmanship of Dr Pat McCartan from Carrickmore, County Tyrone and they decided on a cup to be presented to the GAA. The Association were proud to accept the Cup, at the time it cost £300. In todays terms that sum is equivalent to €25,392, the cup is modelled on the Ardagh Chalice and the commission to make it was given to Hopkins and Hopkins, a jewellers and watchmakers of OConnell Bridge, Dublin. The silver cup was crafted, on behalf of Hopkins and Hopkins, by the silversmith Matthew J. Staunton of DOlier Street, Dublin. Maitiú Standun, Staunton’s son, confirmed in a letter printed in the Alive. newspaper in October 2003 that his father had indeed made the original Sam Magiure Cup back in 1928. Matthew J. Staunton came from a line of silversmiths going back to the Huguenots. Matt, as he was known to his friends, served his time under the renowned Dublin silversmith, Edmond Johnson, the 1928 Sam Maguire Cup is a faithful copy of the Ardagh Chalice. The bowl was not spun on a spinning lathe but hand-beaten from a flat piece of silver. Even though it is polished, multiple hammer marks are still visible today. Kildare was the first county to win the Sam Maguire Cup in 1928 after defeating Cavan 2-6 to 2-5, the original trophy was retired in 1988 as it had received some damage over the years. The GAA commissioned a replica from Kilkenny-based silversmith Desmond A. Byrne, the original Sam Maguire Cup is permanently on display in the GAAs museum at Croke Park. In 2010 the GAA asked the same silversmith to produce another replica of the trophy although this was to be used only for marketing purposes, meaths Joe Cassells was the first recipient of Sam Óg. Meath have the distinction of being the last team to lift the old Sam Maguire, only Nine men have had the honour of being presented with the trophy twice as captain. They are, Joe Barrett, Jimmy Murray, J. J. OReilly, Seán Flanagan, Enda Colleran, Tony Hanahoe Declan OSullivan, Brian Dooher and Stephen Cluxton being the only captain to lift it three times. Since the cup was first played for in the All Ireland final of 1928 Kerry have won it 30 times, galway have won it 9 times, Meath 7 and Cork 5. The Sam Maguire Cup was first presented to the team in 1928

The Irish Civil War (Irish: Cogadh Cathartha na hÉireann; 28 June 1922 – 24 May 1923) was a conflict that followed the …

Image: Secret Destination (6233259813)

National Army soldiers during the Civil War

The Four Courts along the River Liffey quayside. The building was occupied by anti-treaty forces during the Civil War, whom the National Army subsequently bombarded into surrender. The Irish national archives in the buildings were destroyed in the subsequent fire. The building was badly damaged but was fully restored after the war.

The All-Ireland Senior Football Championship (SFC), the premier competition in Gaelic football, is an annual series of …

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Fans of Sligo (in black) are visible in the crowd among supporters of Cork, Meath and Tyrone. The introduction of the All-Ireland Qualifiers in 2001 has provided weaker counties with opportunities to play big games at Croke Park.